Self-adjusting fuse.



J. O. BOLTON, J11. SELF ADJUSTING FY1315.

APPLICATION TILED JAN.20,1910.

986,463, Patented Mar.14, 1911.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. D. HOLTON, J11. SELF ADJUSTING FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1910.

986,463. Patented Mar.14,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. w 1 J1 F, J\ I a @f/fl 4/ 2 9 A A ii =1 -qu'eii t-ly eliminating 'all UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'AMES OLIVER HOIQ'ION, JR., F MONETT, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO J. L.

JEFFRIES, 0F MONET'I, M ISSOURI.

SELF-ADJUSTING FUSE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Application filed January 20,1910. Serial No. 539,082.

To all whom it may concern:

.-Be it knownthat I, Janus O. HoL'roN,Jr.,

fircitizen of the United States, residing at lf'iliionettpin the-county of Barry and State of ELfiSSOHIl, have invented certain new and useful Fuses; .tion.

This invention relates to combined auto- Improvements' in Self-Adjusting of which the following is a specifica- .l0': ma tic fuse and lightning arr-esters, all of the advantages of each being combined in one 'conipactnnd operative form.

d lere'tofore after all electrical storms 1t hasbeen'necess'ary to go over the line, re-

.15 moving all carbons from the arr-esters in the telephone stations and pole boxes, and

cleanse the same removing all carbon dust which accumulates from electrical currents running through the carbons. If this dust was not removed, the current would flowthrough the dust between the carbons and to "the'ground, causing the entire circuit tobe giounded.

An object of the present invention is to completely eliminate these disadvantages of the old .fuse blocks, and to provide a means whereby the carbons will automatically collect the dust, in such a. manner that the line will not grounded.

A- further object of this invention is to construct a successive fuse in combination fwiththe lightning arrester that will doubly insure the circuit from increased potential "and lightning. The present invention 'is so condensed as to 'l)e i'ised in the ordinary brackets, conscadditional expense toiittafch the same to the present circuits. "'lhci present invention also contemplates the.provisionof a combined lightning ar- 'restbr and automatic. successive fuse wherein the overcharge will he conducted to the ground during the replacement of the fuse "destroyed by said overcharge, thus in no way impairing the remaining fuses. This is accomplished by the provision of a choke cm] ,which furnishes impedance suilieicnt -to deflect the overcharge to the ground lcad while the automatic successive fuse is'operating.

it-h the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the construction combination and arrangement of parts ali block. the

iis hereinafter more fully described. claimed and illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, wherein:-

Figure l is a central vertical sect/ 011 of'a combined lightning arrcster and automatic successive fuse constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a. top plan view of the fuse easing thereof being in section; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the circuit continuing springs; big. 5 is a perspective view of the connection between the lightning arrester and the automatic successive fuse; Fig. (i is a perspective of one of the carbons; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mica insulating plate; Fig. 8 is a similar view of the asbestos insulation Separating the carbons from the choke coil; Fig. is a front: elevation of 'a modification of the present inventionlhaferenee being had to the accompanying drawings. A indicates ingencral the carbon chamber or cup retaining the'lightning arrester elements. A binding post 10 c cn trail located in the top of. the porcelain chamber A, while similar members 11 and 1; are diametricall v mounted on each side thereof. said binding post. '11 having the ground lead I? secured thereto, and the central binding post It) having attached thereto the main line lead 14. choke coil 15 is mounted in the casing to one Hl(l0- l'-llt.-l00f and is secured at. one terminal to the binding post It) and at-the other terminal to the bindin post 12. said choke coil being of any suitable material, length 'and size.

The carbons 143 are placed in the chamber direelly under the binding post it) and are sw-nrcd therein by the U-shaped spring [7 bearing againstone side thereof and connerled to the binding post 1|. The opposite side of the carbons bears against: a. spiing is. said spring being of L-formution and is secured at its upper.terminal to the binding post it). the-opposite terminal thereof rest mg flush with and bearing against said ourbons, said spring cau ing a substantial contact lhrongh the carboi'is lit, hchvecn the main line lead It. and the ground lead l3. 'lhesc carbons are constructed with thc'carbons having the coinciding recesses 19 formedtherein. said recesses in con'ibination forming a chamber 20, said chamber being of such a construction that all carbon dust loosened by the electrical current will be contained therein, consequently eliminating short circuits. I

Inter-posed between the carbons 16 is the mica' insulation 21, said mica plate being substantially similar to thecross section of a channel bar, the base thereof extending through the chamber 20 dividingthe same and the flanges extending upwardly between the sides of the carbons, consequently forming a slight gap'atthe upper side of the carbons. It is known that lightning and electricity will jump slight gaps an at times ver large gaps, as a result the electricity 0 high potential entering one of the carbons could jump. to the other carbon, at which time the carbon dust loosened thereby .will be received in the chamber 20,.

the carbon dust falling in the chamber 20 is separated by dropping on each side of the partition formed by the base of the mica filament or insulation 21, and is insulated thereby, there being no direct connection at any; time between thecarbons 16.

An L-shaped stripjof'asbestos is interposed between the carbons and the binding 0st 10 and extends. down oneside thereof owning an' insulation between the choke coil 15 and the carbons 16 adjacent thereto.

- A slot 22-is providedadjacent the bend in the asbestos insulation and, rovides ainans through the lea whereby the spring 18 may extend therethrou'glr and bear directly against the can bon,'conse uently the current will always be in line wit one of'the carbons. Should the potential be increased by lightning or other causes, the electricity will ump the gap at '40 ,the upper extremity-of the-carbons and the surplus thereof wil flow through the spring 17 the'binding 0st 11, and to the ground 13. 'A' glass fuse chamber B is disposed below the carbon'chamber A and has at its upper extremity a reduced portion 23, adapted to be received in the lower extremity of said chani'berlA, said fuse box and carbon eham her being separated by the. asbestos insula 'tion 24. A screw 25passes through the up perextremity oitheglass boxB and is re-. 'ccived in the brass plate 26 carried at the upper side of. the fuse block 27. A hexag- 'onal copper plate 28 is'interposed between the bra ss plate 26'and the use block 27, said copperplate being providedjwith a series of outwardly bent teeth or lugs 29. The fuse block 27 is constructed in two portions, the upper portion thereof 27 being provided with a series of vertical slots 30 and is connected to. the base portion 32 thereof by the reduced portion 31. Atseries of use wires are placed in the slots 30 and are connected at their upper extremities with the teeth 29, the lower extremities .thereof being connected to the successive fuse o atin springs indicated in general as (l,

gated under the slots 30 are a series of screws 34 which have no connection with each other and which form a means of securin oneterminal of the sprin s C. ()ne- 0 screws 34 is'connected y a wire 35 to the binding post 36, which completes the main circuit. The springs are approximately L- shaped and are secured atone terminal to one of the screws and extend upwardly-and over the next adjacent screw to the right, having superppsed above said screw a coil 37. The wire then extends vertically and lower extremity of the fuse.

is secured to tile wires 30. From tlllSCOliStl'tlCtlOn it will be seen that upon disconnectin one ofsaid fuse wires from the spring, 1: 1e sprin will; drop due to the presence of the coil 3 and the angularly bent arm 43 bearing on the base 32, forming a connection between the screw to which one terminal is attached and the in the base portion 32 and directly the screw adjacent thereto on the 14 ht.

From this description itwill be seent at the current which flows through the brass plate 26 to the hexagonal copper plate 28' will [low to any one of the teeth, and consequently the fuse connected thereto which is: connected to the screw'that isin' turnjn operative connection with the bindin post 36. Shouldthe fuse forming the con uctor the spring connected thereto will drop causing the fuse and spring next adj'acent'theretom the right to be brought into the circuit,- and consequently provide-van instantaneous connection. The fuse block may be constructed to carry any number and quality-of fuses, said fuses being of any 'si'zeand standard:- The fuse block is connected to I the binding post'12 of-the carbon chamber by an L-shaped connection 38, the base thereof having an opening 39 therein through which the screw 2.9 )asses, the 'ver-. tical section thereof being bi u'r cated,.form ing; the arms 40, said arms bein clamped between the terminal of the ch'olie coil 15 of the current for any reason become melted,

ioa

and the side of the porcelain cup A. Thus.

it will be seen that. under ordinary circumstances the currenhwill enter the presentin-l' vention through the lead 14, pass through the coil 15 into the connection38, and thence to the screw 25 and the fuse connected to the binding post 36 where it continues to the telephone or instrument in combination with which it is operated. A

' From the foregoing-it will be ters'lhe carbon compartment A, the choke coil will present resistance enough to the noted use; should lightning strikea line before-it en potential of the'current'to' deflect the surplus thereof through the spring'18'to the r 5 one ground wire.

carbons Its causing the current to jump the ga p therebetween and flow out to the ground as heretofore described, any dust formed thereby being collected in the insulated chamber 20. However, should the potential be sutficient to force; an'overtlow current through the-choke coil 15 and into the fuse block, the StlUl'.--Willburn out. one of the fuses, and as the. increasedpotential will be only. instantaneous, the circuit will be completed immediately by the successive fuse 1nechanisln-.-.' u-

In Fig. '9 is illustrated a construction wherein the present invention is applicable to a return circuit, showing the same attached to brackets of the ordinary usual construction. The binding post 10' is connected to a porcelain bar 4t, the lower binding post 36' being attached to a similar poicelain bar all. The ground ,bi uding post 11' is connected by a conducting bar 42 from which the. ground lead 13' extends. This construr tion-permits double safety to be supplied to a circuit, bot-h circuits having admittam-e to A construct ion of this nature also may be used in a single circuit by disconnecting one of the fuse boxes.

It is to be understood that in the foregoing desc'ri tion where glass is mentioned,

3 any other suitable nonconductor may be employed and that where brass is specified, any other suitable conductor may be used. lt is also to understood that the several'pm'ts may bcmadc of any suitable sizes 0. proportions. The construction is not. to he lim- 45 end of said-fuse block, a series being itcd in reference to specific details except as may he required by the slate of the art. and the claims hereinafter specified.

Having thus dcscribed my invention, what 40 is clanned as new is:

I. .\n automatic successive fuse comprising a fuse'block having a central reduced .portion, a copper plate having a series of teeth formed therein carried on the upper of fuses carried by the upper portion of-said use block, each fuse-benig connected to one of said teeth, a plurahtyof screws carried by the lower portion of said fuse block, each screw dis sed directly below one of-said fuses, a I uralit of an ular s )l'ilV'S secun'd to mid screws and having the free terminals thereof secured to the terminal of the fuse disposed directly over the next adjacent screw, said spring adapted to bear onsaid current may be conductedfrom a lightning;

screw when released by'said fuse, means wlu icby the current may be conducted from one of said screws to the binding post of the main line lead, and means whereby the art-ester to said copper plate.

.-\n automati successive fuse comprising acircular fuse "block having a central reduced portion, and a series of slots in the.

on the upper terminal of saidfuse block provided with a series of mlhvardly projecting lugs formed therefrom, a series of fuses contained in said slots secured at their upper terminals to said lugs, a series of screws carried in the lower portion of said fuse block, otlcof said screws being connected to the main linele ad; a plurality of angulunspi'lngs securedat one-terminal thereof to :lltl screws and provided with a centrt tlly disposed coil. the. free terminal thereof heing secured 1o the fuse superposed above the next adjacent: spring, and means whereby said copper-disk may be connected with a lightning arrester.

It. .\n automatic successive fuse, comprisin; al fuse. block having a centralreduced portion, a series of fuses carried-in the upper part of said fuse block, a series of screws carried in the lower portion of said fuse block, one of said screws being connected to the main line lead, and a series of springs interposed between said fuses and screws, each spring adapted to drop on the next. adjacent screw when the fuse connected thereto melts.

4. An automatic successive fuse eomprising in combination, a plurality of-fuses, a plurality of L-coil springs supported by said fuses, one of said springs being connected to an outlet lead,. and means, whereby each of the remainingsprings may cooperate with said last. named spring upon the melting of its supporting fuses' 5. An automatic successive fuse comprising a stationary fuse block having a centralreclnccd portion, a series of fuses carried by the upper portion of said fuse block,'a series of screws carried in the lower ort-ion of said fuse block, each screw being irect-ly under the fuse, angular springsattached to said screws at one terniinal and secured at; the opposite terminal to the fuse directly over the. next adjacent screw, each of the said springs having a coil therein adapted to bear on the next adjacent: screw, and means whereby the current is conducted from one. of said screws to the. main line lead. p (3. In a protector for electrical. circuits, comprising in combination with main line. leads, a fuse block, a distributor plate carricd by the upper terminal of said fuse block, and connected to one of the. remaining line leads, a plurality of, fuses mounted in said fuse block having their upper terminals connected to said distributingplate, a spring supported by each fuse, oneol' said springs bemg connected to the remaining lead line lead, the remaining springs coi'ipta'ating with the last named spring upon the melting of the supporting fuse.

7. ln a protector for chiclriral circuits,

comprising in combination with main line ed to the remaining line leadsfimT r main leads, of a fuse block interposed therebeing springs adapted tQe iSPBfQfie WMI said tween, :1 distributing plate carried by. the last named spring upon upper te 'minal of said fuse block, having :1 each fusesuccessively/ series of upwardly extending teeth fornied In testmwny flerenf "I afiix my signe therefrom, a series of fuses mounted in said ture n1 presence'b'f twowitnesses;

block having their upper terminals connect ed to sand teeth, a eonnectlon plate may be 1n cn'cnlt with whereby said- Witnesses main line leads, and a spring supported' by H. L. BROWN, each fuse, one of sand springs being connect- ARTHUR SUtl'rLEs.

JAMES OLIVER HQLTON, JRZ

one of sa id hlowing' but of 

